Showing 97–112 of 288 results
Spike rush This is a rhizomatous perennial generally reaching heights between 1.5-3′. Pale spikerush is a plant of varied moist habitats, including freshwater lakes and brackish marshes and ponds, ditches, vernal pools, and wet meadows. It has bright green erect stems and straw-colored basal leaves. That would provide a lush boarder around a backyard pond….
California Bottle Grass California Bottle Grass is a bunching tall robust grass that grows to about 3′ tall or more. It naturally occurs along the coastal habitats from Drakes Bay and southward to Santa Cruz. That’s it. Very uncommon and a prize to grow in a shady moist place in your garden. The inflorescence can…
Blue wildrye A perennial grass that grows in small, but tall tufts, reaching 3 to 5 feet tall. Typically found in open meadows, fields, ditch banks, road cuts, etc. Space 1-3′ apart. Blue wildrye can be used ornamentally for its gray foliage, or to hold slopes for erosion control. Short-lived and rather weedy, it naturally…
Creeping wild rye This long-lived semi-evergreen, spreading perennial grass grows 1.5 to 4′ tall. Near riverbanks, this native great for erosion control because of its rhizomatous growth habit. Also, it tolerates trampling and mowing. It has been a superstar at out-competing some invasive weeds. One of our more common riparian understory grasses, this grass stays…
Dense spike primrose Dense Spike-primrose is an erect annual with stems that often exceed 3 ft. in height. In the summer hairy, leafy, densely flowered inflorescences bloom with striking pinkish purple flowers. Sometimes the petals are nearly white with dark veining. This species is a great addition to bird, hummingbird, and butterfly gardens! The bright…
Stream orchid This rhizomatous perennial orchid grows from 12-18” tall. The beautiful showy flowers are the largest flowers of all the California native orchids. This California stream orchid grows in permanently wet soil and so it makes a beautiful and well behaved addition to any bog. The Landscape uses are abundant. Plant near waterfall, ponds,…
Field horsetail Equisetum arvense is thought to be the oldest vascular plant genus, so ancient that Dinosaurs were most likely munching on this herbaceous perennial. Like an erect horse’s tail, with tubular stems fronds sticking out from a main shoot, this prehistoric plant grows to about 1.5 ft tall, and may have up to 20…
Smooth scouring rush This prehistoric relative of the fern grows throughout much of North America. Early settlers and Indians used scouring rush scouring and polishing pots and pans, hence the name “scouring rush”. The grittiness comes form the high silica content of the plant cells. Often forming clonal colonies of plants, the root system consists…
Seaside daisy This low-growing perennial (1′ high x 2′ wide) loves coastal environments and has purple daisy-like flowers and attractive soft-green foliage. Good for a sunny perennial garden in areas with summer fog. A great butterfly plant and provides a cool blue spot of color in a coastal garden. Mix with monkey flowers, Salvias, and…
Red-Flowered Buckwheat An attractive low sub-shrub that rows in low mounds to approx. 2′ tall x 10″ wide. The buckwheats are very important butterfly plants and one of the pillars of their plant communities, but deer like to browse on them so keep them protected. Red-flowered buckwheat is one of the showiest of the buckwheats. …
Coast buckwheat Coast Buckwheat is a small evergreen sub-shrub, usually on coastal bluffs. It grows quickly to a nice mound about 2′ tall and wide. Space 2-3′ apart. The round clusters of cream-colored flowers bloom April – September, turning rusty pink as they dry. A favorite of butterflies and honeybees! Its form, foliage, and flowers…
Buckwheat This small, flowering, perennial shrub grows 6″-1′ high with cotton ball-like flowers on taller, naked stalks in late spring/early summer. An excellent choice for rock gardens. The basal rosette of flat green leaves gives rise to tall leafless stems topped with rounded clusters of white or pale pink or yellow flowers. Plant needs excellent…
Golden yarrow Golden yarrow is a 1 – 2′ tall shrub with bright yellow flowers in early summer. Space plants 1-2 ft apart. Lovely foliage and bold flowers for dry well-drained spot. It does best with full sun, a little summer water, and good drainage. Companion plants include Salvias, Sticky monkeyflower, and California sagebrush. Makes…
Seaside Woolly Sunflower Seaside Woolly Sunflower, also named lizard tail, is a compact shrub that grows to about 3′ tall and 3′ wide. It is perfect in a coastal garden, and picture perfect partnered with coastal Lupines & Coyote Brush. A wonderfully easy to grow sub-shrub found along the coast where the gray foliage becomes…
Bee Thistle Bee thistle is a perennial flower found in marshes and along riverbanks. The stems reach about 3 feet in height. The large purple egg-sharped flower cluster appears in the late summer to early fall. Host to the black swallowtail butterfly and native bees, and honey bees.
Seep Monkeyflower This annual/perennial grows to about one foot, and self sows. Beautiful when planted around water features or in wet meadows or containers. Useful along the edges of ponds or fountains. Seep monkey flower is well liked by hummingbirds and disliked by deer. Long blooming period from Spring through Summer.